Clinical biochemistry (also known as chemical pathology and clinical chemistry) is the area of clinical pathology that is generally concerned with analysis of bodily fluids.

The discipline originated in the late 19th century with the use of simple chemical tests for various components of blood and urine.

Subsequent to this, other techniques were applied including the use and measurement of enzyme activities, spectrophotometry (used mainly in identifying the chemical bonds within a compound to establish its purity), electrophoresis (a technique used to biochemistry and molecular biology to separate a mixed population of DNA and RNA fragments by length, to estimate the size of DNA and RNA fragments or to separate proteins by charge) and immunoassay (a specific type of biochemical test that measures the presence or concentration of a substance, referred to as the “analyte“, in solutions that frequently contain a complex mixture of substances. Analysis of biological liquids such as serum or urine are frequently assayed using immunoassay methods .

Imunoassays A large medical laboratory will accept samples for up to about 700 different kinds of tests. Most current laboratories are now highly automated to accommodate the high workload. Tests performed are closely monitored and quality controlled.

A large medical laboratory will accept samples for upto about 700 different kinds of tests. Even the largest of laboratories rarely do all these tests themselves, and some must be referred to other labs. This large array of tests can be further sub–categorized into sub–specialties of :

• General or routine chemistry – commonly ordered blood chemistry (e.g., liver and kidney function tests).
• Special chemistry – elaborate techniques such as electrophoresis manual testing methods.
• Clinical endocrinology – the study of hormones, and diagnosis of endocrine disorders.
• Toxicology – the study of drugs of abuse.
• Therapeutic Drug Monitoring – measurement of therapeutic blood levels of medications to optimize dosage.
• Urinalysis – chemical analysis of urine for a wide array of diseases, along with other fluids such as CSF (Cerebrospinal fluid) and effusions.
• Fecal analysis – mostly for detection of gastrointestinal disorders.

In the future, Biochemistry may provide answers for

• artificial photosynthesis (to maintain oxygen levels and reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide)
• obesity solutions/weight loss
• a cure for diabetes and many other diseases
• more accurate diagnosis
• better treatment of infection
• increased life expectancy with slower aging
• synthetic organs and tissues for transplant

Imagine the whole array of other potential paths that Biochemistry could take!